LGBT GREAT NEWS

I was offered an undergraduate research position in the ChemE department.

From my research advisor's website:

Flavonoids belong to the group of plant polyphenols. They are low molecular weight compounds comprised of three-ring structure with various substitutions. More than 5000 different natural flavonoids have been described. The six major subclasses of flavonoids include the flavones, flavonols, flavanones, flavanols, anthocyanidins, and isoflavones. Flavonoids have many functions in biochemistry, physiology and ecology of plants and also play important roles in human nutrition. Recently, interest in the possible health benefits of flavonoids has increased due to their potent antioxidant and anti-radical scavenging activities observed in vitro. The protective effect of consumption of flavonoids towards cardiovascular disease and cancer draw much attention to their large-scale production for pharmaceutical application.

The common bacteria Escherichia coli and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been used in a number of biotechnological applications to produce high-value chemicals. Our group has developed E. coli and S. cerevisiae strains that are capable of synthesizing flavonoids which are originally synthesized in plants. The recombinant technology was built through introducing multi-gene plant biosynthetic pathways in the microorganisms. Isolating genes from various plant sources and activating protein synthesis in the microorganisms resulted in the synthesis of various flavonoids.

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weeee. Apparently I've made a good impression on my professors. They want to pick my brain.

I just need to figure out how this is going to all work out with my life and all. But, this is what I love so I don't mind making it my life.

Congrats! That is sorta how Ferron's life is playing out (if you remember him). In Undergrad, he was offered a Research Position. After graduating, he stayed at the college for another year with that position, while taking additional classes of interest. A year after graduation, armed with the experience of the research position and attached line credits, he applied and was accepted directly into a Ph.D program... So although he is extremely busy right now, it has been very beneficial to him.

when I was having trouble with my GI tract I got told to drink a lot of chamomile tea because it has some flavonoids that really help your body heal itself faster....you can now make history in that research...congrats : )

Congrats! That is sorta how Ferron's life is playing out (if you remember him). In Undergrad, he was offered a Research Position. After graduating, he stayed at the college for another year with that position, while taking additional classes of interest. A year after graduation, armed with the experience of the research position and attached line credits, he applied and was accepted directly into a Ph.D program... So although he is extremely busy right now, it has been very beneficial to him.

Think stepping stone, handsome. Again, congratulations.

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I'd love to do this but unfortunately research funding is not increasing in the US.

As someone who left a PhD program in the physical sciences for law school I will say this: congratulations!

But I will also just give you the words of caution: graduate school is miserable, the paycheck is not at the end of the road and frequently dumb people will hold your professional life in their baby sized fists of incompetence.

Okay I need to sandwich the words of caution between compliments because it is a huge achievement to get noticed in undergrad so: you can change the world with what you are studying honestly! If this is what you love go change the world.

As someone who left a PhD program in the physical sciences for law school I will say this: congratulations!

But I will also just give you the words of caution: graduate school is miserable, the paycheck is not at the end of the road and frequently dumb people will hold your professional life in their baby sized fists of incompetence.

Okay I need to sandwich the words of caution between compliments because it is a huge achievement to get noticed in undergrad so: you can change the world with what you are studying honestly! If this is what you love go change the world.

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Industry is miserable.

I've thought about this, and I just don't care about making a lot of money. Not to be cocky, but I could do anything with my life. I'd rather be an integral part of science rather than an end user.